A 

little bit of light repels a lot of darkness (Duties 
of the Heart, Chapter 5)
During this time of global turmoil, 
darkness and challenge, attending the Yeshiva Beth 
Yehudah’s Evening of Unity provided the light and 
warmth so many have been seeking.
Standing shoulder to shoulder, a broad and diverse 
cross section of the greater Detroit community graced 
the Renaissance Ballroom and dais of the Detroit 
Marriott, uplifting the sellout crowd with the palpable 
sense of togetherness and hope, of light and positivity.
They were all there to recognize the children of the 
Yeshiva, 1,400 bright and beautiful young men and 
women, all receiving the essential knowledge and tools 
to become the leaders of tomorrow. They were there 
for the 400+ children receiving invaluable support 
at the James Grosfeld Center for Special Education, 
each one learning and growing at their own pace, with 
individualized attention, incredibly loving teachers and 
staff, and the goal of reaching the same heights as their 
peers. 
They were there because they understood the future 
of our community relies on the brotherhood and unity 
of each one of us.
There were the usual touches one has come to 
expect at the Yeshiva Dinner — an abundant and 

delicious strolling dinner, a first-class orchestra, 
inspiring speeches by community and business leaders, 
heartwarming performances by the young men of the 
Yeshiva Boys Choir. There was the Partners Detroit 
Torah learning program an hour before the reception, 
where hundreds of Jews from all backgrounds 
gathered to engage in Torah study and join together in 
prayer for the safety of Israel and its soldiers.
And there was the feeling everyone has come to 
expect from a Yeshiva event: the unity of guests from 
all walks of life, different political parties, varied 
religious affiliations, corporate leaders and community 
members of every stripe, joining together in solidarity 
and support of our shared values.
The ballroom was filled with hundreds of tables, 
a four-tiered dais graced by the leadership of our 
state and scions of our religious, philanthropic and 
business communities, souvenir journals packed with 
congratulatory messages and adorable photos of the 
children everyone had come to support. 
Parents, grandparents and friends of the students 
of the Yeshiva joyfully attended to show their love 
and support for these wonderful children and the 
marvelous education they are receiving.
But this year, after singing the anthems, all the guests 
were asked to sit as seven young boys were introduced 

and sang a haunting, beautiful song of unity, a vision 
for our world of peace, goodness, kindness and love. 
Their rendition brought tears to the eyes of many.
These seven boys set the tone for the rest of the 
evening. Mayor Mike Duggan, Senators Gary Peters 
and Debbie Stabenow and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer all 
spoke of a better world, a world without the evil we 
are experiencing and witnessing, a world full of the 
kindness the Yeshiva instills in its students, a world 
they were all there to celebrate. 
And celebrate they did. Steve Steinour, dinner 
chairman and 2020 honoree, was surprised to receive 
the coveted Yeshiva Guardian award by Jim Grosfeld, 
a dinner chair, last year’s honoree and a Yeshiva 
Guardian himself. 
Dinner honoree, DTE CEO Jerry Norcia was 
presented with the Outstanding Leadership Award 
after a touching video about his childhood in Italy 
and his desire to give back. His story is memorialized 
in The Boy who Lit Up the World, an illustrated book 
published in Jerry’s honor as a souvenir of the event.
Rabbi Gershon Miller, dean of Beth Yehudah, 
delivered a poignant Torah thought on the creation of 
Man. God instructed, “Let us make Man,
” a directive 
to every individual to incorporate the Heavenly and 
Divine into our essential beings, and make choices that 

Yeshiva Beth Yehudah’s 2023 
Annual Dinner Was a Showcase 
of Light and Warmth

Yeshiva supporter and 
aluminous Mickey 
Shapiro and dinner 
honoree Jerry Norcia

The Yeshiva’s Boys Choir 
thrilled the audience with 
heartwarming songs and 
dedications.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF YESHIVA BETH YEHUDAH

Guest speaker 
Pennsylvania 
Gov. Josh Shapiro

32 | NOVEMBER 3 • 2024 Yeshiva Beth Yehudah Special Edition J
N

YESHIVA BETH YEHUDAH

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOVEMBER 30, 2023